Southern Ontario Model United Nations Assembly L

Joint Crisis Committee: The 1683 Battle of Vienna

Joint Crisis Committee

Battle of Vienna (1863)

Chairs (Ottoman Empire): Amy Qian & Leyan He

Chairs (Holy Roman Empire): Kathleen Wu & Adam Mawani
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Joint Crisis Committee: The 1683 Battle of Vienna

Introduction
The two key players in this battle are the Ottoman Empire and the Holy Roman Empire.
The battle takes place after the siege of Vienna, on the territory of the Holy Roman Empire. This
battle is especially important in history because it marks the turning point in the ongoing
Ottoman-Habsburg wars, which was a 300-year-old struggle between the Holy Roman Empire and
the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire has always wanted to capture the city of Vienna
because the region had access to many important areas like the Danubian area of Southern Europe
as well as Overland trade routes in the Eastern Mediterranean and Germany. Previous attempts to
capture the city, most notably the 1529 attempt, did not amount to anything. The Holy Roman
Empire, at this time, is not at its strongest and is susceptible to the battling ideologies of its member
states. In order to battle the Ottomans, cooperation and aid from its member states were much
needed, which will prove difficult given the divide between states not only because of political
ideology but also because of religious and economic interests.

The Holy Roman Empire

The Holy Roman Empire was a complex and dynamic set of lands that was ruled by the
Holy Roman Emperor from 800 BC. It spanned most of Europe at the time and was held by
Frankish then German kings for 10 centuries.1 It is also not to be confused with its constituent
countries like Germany and Italy, though they are clearly interrelated.2 The empire was made of
several smaller “member states” whose diverse interests often conflicted with each other, which
meant that unless the empire was ruled by a very strong emperor, the conflicting interests meant that
the empire was often fragmented and lacked cohesion.
The Holy Roman Empire was divided into hundreds of individual entities governed by
princes, and historically the Holy Roman Emperor held the highest position of authority within the
Empire. At the time, in 1683, the Emperor was elected by eight prince-electors, who constituted the
second-highest level of authority in the Empire. However, by 1648, the emperor’s power had been
significantly diluted amongst the Imperial Estates. These Estates were constituents of the Holy
Roman Empire with representation and voting power in the Imperial Diet, the deliberative body of
the Empire.
In 1648, following the conclusion of the Thirty Years’ War with the Peace of Westphalia, the
extent of the Holy Roman Empire encapsulated the modern countries of Germany, Czechia, Austria,
Belgium, Slovenia, western Poland, and portions of eastern France.

1
The Holy Roman Empire’s history is lengthy and by the onset of the 1683 Battle of Vienna, had already spanned
several centuries. For our purposes, it would be convoluted and excessive to go into full detail of the history of the
empire.
2
Barraclough, Geoffrey. “Holy Roman Empire.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., January 31, 2023.
https://www.britannica.com/place/Holy-Roman-Empire.
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Joint Crisis Committee: The 1683 Battle of Vienna

Due to the decentralized government of the Holy Roman Empire alongside its complex web
of territorial relationships, the empire was facing a number of geopolitical tensions at the time of the
Battle of Vienna in 1683. One of such tensions was the conflicts between various religious factions
since the Holy Roman Empire was made up of a mix of Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox regions.
As each faction had its own interests and priorities, this often led to conflict between different
regions, as well as between the empire and neighbouring powers.3 For example, the Protestant
regions of the empire often found themselves at odds with Catholic France, which was seeking to
extend its influence in the region.4

Social Structure
At this time, the Holy Roman Empire had quite a complex system of social classes
that contributed to a sophisticated and organized society even though it had a decentralized
government. At the top of the hierarchy was the Emperor. The Emperor was the head of
state and had absolute power. Below the Emperor were the princes. The princes served as
the main centralizers of their territory and held almost complete control over any estates in
their reign. They had the ability to levy taxes, and the rising costs of administration
compelled them to raise the cost of living for their subjects. Since many towns often had
protection from these taxes because of the support they gave, princes often resorted to
oppressing freer peasants and introducing Roman Civil law to them.
The class below the princes was where princes got their support. This was the lesser
nobility. These families often had a heritage of knights and vast amounts of land as well as
economic and political power. Although future research into military science and gunpowder
reduced their importance, they still were able to live quite a luxurious lifestyle. In addition to
their support for princes which granted them protection, they also often exercised their
ancient right of plundering the countryside.5
The next social class was the clergy. The clergy was a group of religious officials part
of the Catholic Church. Since the Catholic Church was deeply embedded in the social and
political structure of the empire, the clergy often held significant power in the Holy Roman
Empire and played a central role in the governance of the empire. However, the clergy also
faced many critical issues, since it was beginning to lose its intellectual authority over matters

3
McLean, Assistant Professor John. “Western Civilization.” Lumen. Accessed March 29, 2023.
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-herkimer-westerncivilization/chapter/religious-divide-in-the-holy-rom
an-empire/.
4
Brooks, Christopher. “Chapter 7: Religious Wars.” Western Civilization A Concise History. NSCC, January 6, 2020.
https://pressbooks.nscc.ca/worldhistory/chapter/chapter-7-religious-wars/.
5
Askland, Conrad. “Social Classes in 16th Century Holy Roman Empire.” Conrad Askland, November 26, 2008.
https://conradaskland.com/blog/social-classes-in-16th-century-holy-roman-empire/.
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within the state. This is because the spread of humanism increased literacy rates throughout
the Empire, which decreased the monopoly the Catholic Church had over education.6
Below the religious officials were the burghers. This was also known as the middle class and
consisted of merchants, traders, and artisans who lived in towns and cities. They often
owned their own workshops and its tools, and allowed apprentices to use the shop for
practice. Although individual members did not hold significant political power, the combined
group of the middle class was an important economic force in the empire and played a key
role in the development of trade and commerce.7
Finally, the worker class was at the bottom of the social hierarchy. This class
consisted of two major groups, the plebeians and the peasants. The plebeians were the urban
workers who never held any higher positions because of the oppression from the wealthy
capitalist families. Oftentimes, they did not own any property and also had very few rights.
The second group part of this class was the peasants. They were primarily farmers who
worked the land owned by the nobility, and they were usually treated as property of
whomever they were subject to. Whether it was a bishop, prince, a town, or a noble, the
peasant and all his belongings were owned by them and could be taken away whenever. A
multitude of taxes were exacted on the peasants and even when they wished to marry, they
had to pay a tax and request their owner, the lord, for permission. The plebeians and
peasants were considered in the same social class, but the plebeians generally received more
freedom and higher quality of living compared to the peasants.8

Economic System
During the 17th century, the Holy Roman Empire was a patchwork of different
states and territories; each of them with its own unique economic system. However, their
economy shared some common trends. The first of these similarities is that at the time of
the Battle of Vienna in 1683, the Holy Roman Empire was predominantly agrarian, with
most people working in agriculture. The main crops were grains such as wheat and barley,
which were used to make bread and beer, respectively. A significant amount of pastoral
farming was also present, and cattle and sheep were often raised for their meat and wool.
This agricultural the industry contributed a massive amount of income to the economies
regardless of which specific state or territory it was in.9

6
Ibid.
7
Ibid.
8
Ibid.
9
Hays, Jeffrey. “Crops in the Roman Empire: Mostly Grains, Olives and Fruits.” Facts and Details, 2018.
https://factsanddetails.com/world/cat56/sub408/entry-6383.html.
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Joint Crisis Committee: The 1683 Battle of Vienna

In addition to agriculture, trade was a crucial part of the economy. The Holy Roman
Empire had a long tradition of trade that dated back to the medieval period. Due to the
geographical position of the Empire, it was located at the heart of Europe and was
advantageously placed in a way so that it had access to important trade routes linked to
northern and southern Europe. Cities like the German cities of Frankfurt and Augsburg
helped serve as major commercial hubs, in part due to their proximity to the Rhine River,
one of the most important trade routes in Europe. It flowed from Switzerland through the
western part of the Empire and into the Netherlands. On the Rhine, goods like wine, grain,
and high-quality textiles were transported. Since many of the territories of the Holy Roman
Empire were separate from each other, there needed to be an intricate trading network and
system in place to ensure resources got distributed to places where they were needed. Thus,
many important trade fairs often took place which attracted a multitude of merchants from
all over Europe. Apart from domestic trade, there was also international trade that was
crucial to the economic system of the Holy Roman Empire. This trade was often with other
European powers, and countries in Asia and Africa and was facilitated through trading posts
set up at places like Constantinople, Cairo, and Aleppo. However, this international trade was
much less important compared to the domestic trade that occurred, because it often only
facilitated the exchange of goods such as spices, silks and precious metals, which wasn’t as
important to the sustainability and financial stability of the Empire.10
Two very crucial industries to the Holy Roman Empire were the mining and textiles
industry. The Holy Roman Empire was incredibly rich in minerals such as silver, copper, and
lead. This led to mining being a major source of employment and revenue, and towns that
had most of the materials, such as Freiberg in Saxony, were able to become highly
prosperous. The textile industry was also quite large within the Empire. There were many
great craftsmen who were able to produce high-quality fabrics and clothing, especially in
cities such as the German cities of Augsburg and Nuremberg. Furthermore, artisans were
incredibly highly valued in the Holy Roman Empire for their skills to produce a wide range
of goods, ranging from pottery to clothing to musical instruments.11

Currency
At the time, the primary currency used in the Holy Roman Empire was the
Reichsthaler specie, a standard silver coin introduced in 1566. However, exchanges with other
currencies and smaller denominations fluctuated greatly during the 17th century as various

10
Isenmann, Eberhard. “The Holy Roman Empire in the Middle Ages.” The Rise of the Fiscal State in Europe
c.1200–1815, 1999, 242–80. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198204022.003.0008.
11
Wilson, Peter H. “The Holy Roman Empire in the 18th Century.” Gale, 2015.
https://www.gale.com/intl/essays/peter-h-wilson-holy-roman-empire-eighteenth-century.
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Joint Crisis Committee: The 1683 Battle of Vienna

states attempted to establish different currency standards. Furthermore, following the Peace
of Westphalia in 1648, the right of coinage, or the ability to issue regulations governing the
minting and production of coins, became decentralized.12

Alliances
Despite the fragmented nature of the Holy Roman Empire, there were several
important alliances and relationships between member-states that played a significant role in
the Empire’s power. One such alliance was between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
and the Holy Roman Empire. Crucially, this alliance was primarily focused on countering the
Ottoman threat, allowing it to play a huge role in the Battle of Vienna. The combined forces
of Polish King Jan Sobieski and the Holy Roman Empire made it incredibly difficult for the
Ottomans to succeed.13
Another important alliance was the League of Augsburg, which was formed in 1686,
three years after the 1683 Battle of Vienna, by various European powers to counter the
growing threat of French expansionism under Louis XIV. This league consisted of several
member-states, including the Austrian Habsburgs, the Electorate of Bavaria, the Duchy of
Savoy, and the Kingdom of Spain. This alliance was crucial in the aftermath of the Battle of
Vienna, as it helped to stabilize the region and prevent further Ottoman aggression.14
Although this alliance was formed after the Battle of Vienna, many of these member-states
already had good relationships with each other and were close to becoming allies during the
Battle of Vienna.

The Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire was a Muslim state founded in 1299 that lasted until its dissolution in
1922. It was a powerful and vast empire that spanned over three continents, including countries like
modern-day Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, and parts of the Middle East and North Africa. The
Ottoman Empire initially came to light through a leader of the Turkish tribes in Anatolia, Osman I.
Alongside some others, he created a formal government and began expanding their territory and
power. However, it was only in 1453 that the Ottoman Empire truly became a worthy empire after

12
Shaw, William Arthur. “The History of Currency.” Putnam.
https://books.google.ca/books?id=GrJCAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA360&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
13
Evans, R.J.W. “Mighty Prussia: Rise and Fall.” The New York Review of Books, August 12, 2020.
https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2007/09/27/mighty-prussia-rise-and-fall/.
14
Mallan, Stuart. “Welcome to the League of Augsburg.” Home | League of Augsburg. Accessed March 30, 2023.
https://www.leagueofaugsburg.com/.
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seizing the city of Constantinople and renaming it the city of Istanbul as the new capital of the
Ottoman Empire.15

After gaining its new capital, the Ottoman Empire underwent a period of rapid expansion in
the late 15th and early 16th centuries, facilitated by Suleiman the Magnificent. After coming into
power in 1520, he launched a series of military campaigns, such as the Siege of Belgrade (1521),
Siege of Rhodes (1522), and Battle of Mohács (1526) that expanded the Ottoman Empire’s territory
and influence.16
During this period of time, the Ottoman Empire was at its peak, marked by great power,
stability and wealth. The rapid expansion led by Suleiman the Magnificent helped to establish the
Ottoman Empire as a major world power stretching from Eastern Europe to the Middle East.
However, this expansion also brought many consequences. Due to the Ottoman Empire’s power
being spread across a multitude of large regions, there were many complex and multifaceted
geopolitical tensions that arose and evolved throughout the course of the empire’s history.
The regions in control of the Ottoman Empire were home to a diverse population of
different ethnic and religious groups that included Turks, Arabs, Greeks, Armenians, Kurds, and
others.17 While the Ottomans were known for their religious tolerance, there were still tensions
between different religious communities, specifically in areas with large non-Muslim populations.
The Ottoman Empire adopted the millet system, where non-Muslim communities were allowed to
govern their own regions under a religious leader. This protected and tolerated the rights of
non-Muslim individuals, but separated them from the rest of the Ottomans. Thus, the system ended
up creating more tensions within the Empire and limited the number of opportunities received by
non-Muslims.18 In addition to internal tensions across member-states, there were also external
tensions in regard to religion. The Austro-Hungarian Empire, also a multi-ethnic state with a large
non-Muslim population, often clashed with the Ottoman Empire about the treatment of minorities.
This created many issues along borders pertaining to trade and also political legitimacy.
Another major geopolitical tension that the Ottoman Empire faced was the immense
amount of competition with European powers, who sought to expand their influence in the Middle
East and North Africa. They often wanted control over strategic ports, trade routes, markets, and
just more territories in general, which resulted in conflicts with the Ottoman Empire.
15
History.com Editors. “Ottoman Empire - WWI, Decline & Definition - History.” HISTORY, November 3, 2017.
https://www.history.com/topics/middle-east/ottoman-empire.
16
HistoryExtra. “Why We Should Remember the Reign of Suleiman the Magnificent.” HistoryExtra. HistoryExtra,
September 22, 2022.
https://www.historyextra.com/period/medieval/why-we-remember-role-suleiman-magnificent/.
17
Ministry for Culture and Heritage. “The Ottoman Empire | Page 2 - Background.” RSS, January 16, 2015.
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/ottoman-empire/background.
18
Aviv, Efrat. “Millet System in the Ottoman Empire.” Oxford Bibliographies Online Datasets, 2016.
https://doi.org/10.1093/obo/9780195390155-0231.
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Economic System
With a centralized government, the Ottoman Empire had a sophisticated monetary
system, composed of multiple facets, all of which were heavily regulated by the state. The
Ottoman Empire was supported by two major industries: Agriculture and Manufacturing.
Agriculture was the Ottoman Empire’s economic powerhouse. Many crops, such as wheat,
corn, and rice flourished under the vast fertile soil and advanced irrigation systems and
provided citizens with their main source of income as well as key trading opportunities.19
The manufacturing industry was another source of income as the empire had many talented
craftsmen. Unique textiles, ceramics, metalwork, and other products were created at a high
rate and there was high demand for these products throughout the entirety of Europe.20
Alongside these two industries, the Ottoman Empire also had a taxation system that
was designed to provide the state with more resources to increase its power. Adopted during
the reign of Sultan Mehmed II, the iltizām was a tax system that gave taxation rights to the
highest bidder who then kept a part of the resources for themselves, while also paying part
of it to the state.21 This included taxes on landowners, customs duties for imports and
exports, as well as the production tax for artisans. Although this gave the state more funding,
the tax farming resulted in immense corruption that began seeping into the state as tax
farmers continued to extort more money from the populace.22
Finally, while the state strived to provide the most for its citizens in terms of
education, healthcare, and general quality of life, there were inevitably small areas and groups
of individuals that were not able to receive these benefits. An alternative financial system
called the system of waqfs, was created and eventually became the backbone of Ottoman
beneficence. These waqfs, or religious endowments, were established by wealthy individuals
and institutions and were used to provide financial support for charitable services.23 Imperial
waqfs also existed, which was a much larger form of the ordinary waqf, often founded by the

19
Mammadov, Kanan. “Economy of the Ottoman Empire.” Modern Diplomacy, January 11, 2023.
https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2023/01/12/economy-of-the-ottoman-empire/.
20
Faroqhi, Suraiya. Artisans of Empire, 2009. https://doi.org/10.5040/9780755610099.0007.
21
Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Iltizām.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Accessed March
27, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/topic/iltizam-tax-system.
22
Coşgel, Metin M. “Efficiency and Continuity in Public Finance: The Ottoman System of Taxation.” International Journal
of Middle East Studies 37, no. 4 (2005): 567–86. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0020743805052207.
23
Bulut, Mehmet, and Cem Korkut. “Ottoman Cash Waqfs: An Alternative Financial System.” Insight Turkey 21, no. 2
(2019). https://doi.org/10.25253/99.2018ev.07.
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sultans, dynasty members, and high-ranking state servants.24 Waqfs played a huge role in
supporting education, healthcare, and other social services in places the state neglected.25

Currency
At the time, the primary currency used was the akçe, a small silver coin that was
widely circulated for daily transactions. However, transactions in varying denominations still
occurred. There was the para, settled in 1640 to be worth 3 akçe, which was used for larger
purchases such as weapons and horses. 26 There were also gold coins in circulation, first
introduced in Mehmed the Conqueror in 1478. However, these were much less common
than silver coins and were only used for larger payments such as military salaries or luxury
goods.27

Social Structure
The social hierarchy in the Ottoman Empire was quite complicated due to the
enormous size of the empire. At the top of the hierarchy was the Sultan, the absolute ruler
of the Ottoman territories. As the head of the government, the Sultan had control over its
provinces, officials and inhabitants, meaning that his words were the Law. He was often
regarded as a political, military, judicial, social, and religious leader, who responded to
nobody’s commands except for those from Allah (God).28 This position was always inherited
from the sons of the previous Sultan, which kept the royal bloodline pure but also created
tensions within the royal family because of power struggles for the throne.29
The ruling class stood below the Sultan and it consisted of two major groups. The
first of these two groups was the askeri. This group consists of mainly high-ranking military
officials, court officials, and clergy. Both Muslims and non-Muslims could take one of these
positions, as long as they had the necessary talent and merit to gain it through a political
office. This included pashas (the highest official title of honour in the Ottoman Empire),30

24
Orbay, Kayhan. “Imperial Waqfs within the Ottoman Waqf System.” Endowment Studies 1, no. 2 (2017): 135–53.
https://doi.org/10.1163/24685968-00102002.
25
Çelik, Jennifer. “Waqf: The Backbone of Ottoman Beneficence.” Daily Sabah. Daily Sabah, June 8, 2015.
https://www.dailysabah.com/feature/2015/06/09/waqf-the-backbone-of-ottoman-beneficence.
26
Team Mintage World. “Coinage of the Ottoman Empire.” Mintage World Online Museum & Collectorspedia, July 23, 2021.
https://www.mintageworld.com/blog/coinage-of-the-ottoman-empire/.
27
Ekinci, Ekrem. “A Monetary History of Islamic Societies.” Ekrem Buğra Ekinci, May 20, 2016.
https://www.ekrembugraekinci.com/article/?ID=702&a-monetary-history-of-islamic-societies.
28
Sansal, Burak. “Ottoman Sultans and Their Dynasty.” The Ottoman sultans | All About Turkey. Accessed March 28,
2023. https://www.allaboutturkey.com/ottoman_sultans.html.
29
Soth, Amelia. “Why Ottoman Sultans Locked Away Their Brothers - Jstor Daily.” JSTOR Daily, December 26, 2019.
https://daily.jstor.org/why-ottoman-sultans-locked-away-their-brothers/.
30
Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Pasha.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Accessed March 28,
2023. https://www.britannica.com/topic/pasha.
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beys (governor of a province distinguished by his own flag),31 and the Janissaries (an elite
corps in the army), and they enjoyed privileges such as exemption from taxes.32 The other
group within this ruling class was religious leaders, such as Islamic scholars, imams, and
judges. They were crucial to defining the disposition of Ottoman society and culture and
helped to both interpret and enforce Islamic law. Although religious leaders may have had a
bit less political influence compared to government officials, they were often held in high
regard by the population. Although these two groups stood in the same class and held
similar amounts of power, if there had to be a distinction between the two, the government
and military officials would probably be ranked higher due to their unique control of
weapons and soldiers.33
Below the ruling class was the common people, which consisted of four different
types of major social classes. There were the men of the pen, which often required a bit
more education than normal and consisted of occupations such as scientists, lawyers, and
doctors. This was usually the class with the highest income in comparison to the other
classes among the common people. The next class was the men of the sword. These were
individuals who were involved with the military and helped with either the warfare
equipment or the fighting itself. Then there were the men of negotiation. This included
occupations such as merchants, artisans, and traders, where a large part of their occupation
was selling things through negotiation tactics. Finally, there were the men of the husbandry
which were often considered the lowest social class due to the very minimal skills needed.
This class consisted of mostly farmers and herders, who were also known as the rayah.
Overall, the individuals in all four of these social classes were tax-paying citizens who
followed the commands of the ruling class.34
Finally, slaves occupied the lowest rung of the social hierarchy. This was similar to
the concept of slavery we have today, where slaves were used for a variety of purposes
including labour, domestic work, and military service. The vast majority of slaves were
brought in from wars and enslavement expeditions mainly from places like Africa, the
Caucasus, and other parts of the world. Overall, the social structure of the Ottoman Empire
was complex and multifaceted, with a variety of different groups occupying different

31
Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Bey.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Accessed March 28,
2023. https://www.britannica.com/topic/bey.
32
Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Janissary.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Accessed March
28, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Janissary.
33
Bein, Amit. “Politics, Military Conscription, and Religious Education in the Late Ottoman Empire.” International Journal
of Middle East Studies 38, no. 2 (2006): 283–301. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3879974.
34
Mardin, Şerif. “Power, Civil Society and Culture in the Ottoman Empire.” Comparative Studies in Society and History
11, no. 3 (1969): 258–81. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0010417500005338.
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positions of power, but ultimately it had clear and distinctive divisions that allowed citizens
to know where they stood within society.

Alliances
At the time of the Battle of Vienna, the Ottomans had several alliances that provided
both advantages and disadvantages to their state. One of the most important alliances was
with the Crimean Khanate. The Crimean Khanate was a semi-autonomous state located on
the northern coast of the Black Sea. The alliance consisted of a mutual defence agreement
between the Ottomans and the Crimean Tatars, which meant that they would be obligated to
support each other during wars. In addition, the partnership gave the Ottoman empire
access to incredibly valuable military resources such as cavalry troops, food, and other
supplies. There was also a geographical advantage to this alliance, as the Crimean Peninsula
had a topographical advantage as a strategic buffer zone in times of war.35
Another major alliance was with the Safavid Empire that started in 1639. The Treaty
of Zuhab, which was signed in 1639 by Safavid Persia and the Ottoman Empire,
acknowledged Ottoman rule over Iraq and sharply divided the Caucasus between the two
empires. The Zuhab treaty was largely a consolidation of the Peace of Amasya, which took
place about a century previously. This alliance provided the Ottoman Empire with a
counterbalance against the growing power of the Safavids in the region, in addition to more
influence within the Caucasus region. The additional influence also allowed them to gain
more control over key trade routes.36
However, although these alliances did provide the Ottoman Empire with help in
cementing its power, their relationships with their partners often became complicated and
fraught with tensions. The alliance with the Crimean Khanate was often weakened due to
disagreements over the spoils of Ottoman campaigns. This resulted in the Ottoman Empire
not receiving the most amount of support they could have received from this alliance, which
weakened their forces in the Battle of Vienna.

Weaponry and Equipment

One of the most used weapons—as the primary weapon for the armies of both the Ottoman
Empire and the Holy Roman Empire—was the musket. It was a muzzle-loaded long gun that
resembled a smoothbore weapon. It was initially a heavier variant of the arquebus and was able to
35
Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies. “Ottoman Empire and the Crimean Khanate: A Symbiotic Alliance or Veiled
Rivalry?” Stanford Program in International Relations, 2016.
https://internationalrelations.stanford.edu/events/ottoman-empire-and-crimean-khanate-symbiotic-alliance-or
-veiled-rivalry#.
36
Riedlmayer,Andras. “Ottoman-Safavid Relations and the Anatolian Trade Routes: 1603-1618.” Turkish Studies
Association Bulletin 5, no. 1 (1981): 7–10. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43385090.
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penetrate heavy armour. It had a long barrel and was fired using a matchlock mechanism. In
addition to firearms, common melee weapons such as swords, axes, and spears were also used by
cavalry troops.37 Finally, since this was a large-scale battle, it involved a massive amount of siege
warfare. This meant that artillery, including cannons and mortars, were often used to breach enemy
fortifications. Grenades and other explosives were also often used to create chaos within enemy
lines.

Onset
During the summer of 1683, the main army of the Ottoman Empire, which was over
150,000 troops strong, lay Vienna under siege. The Ottomans had done so at the behest of Imre
Thokoly, the leader of the Hungarian Calvinists. The Ottoman troops laid siege to Vienna and
quickly got to work, capturing the outer fortifications, and tunnelling to the inner walls. The
emperor, Leopold I, has already fled the city to Passau in neighbouring Germany. Pope Innocent XI
tried unsuccessfully to persuade Louis XIV of France to aid Leopold against the Ottomans. When
that failed, he appealed to Poland with a large subsidy. The Ottoman forces have made substantial
progress into the city at this point, and victory is near as they have come closer to taking Vienna
than they were in their previous attempt in 1529.38 The Ottoman Empire has just demanded that the
city of Vienna surrender. The committee begins on July 14th, 1683.

Maps
The map below details the positions of the Ottoman Empire’s troops (indicated with the
tents surrounding Vienna) and the troops of the allies of the Holy Roman Empire (indicated with
rectangles that generally surround the tents). Near the centre-left of the map, the tent of the Grand
Vizier is clearly marked with a circle. The river on the right is the Danube, which separates
approximately a third of Vienna from the rest.

37
Joe, Jimmy. “Ottoman Weapons: A Detailed Description and Their Origins.” Timeless Myths, April 7, 2022.
https://www.timelessmyths.com/history/ottoman-weapons/#.
38
Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Siege of Vienna.” Encyclopedia Britannica, March 20, 2023.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Siege-of-Vienna-1683.
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Figure 1: Map of the Battle of Vienna.39

Crisis Procedures
Crisis differs greatly from other Model UN committees. It lacks the usual topics, resolutions,
speaking times, and strict procedures, and this makes it considerably more organic and efficient.
That being said, Crisis’ fluid nature makes it very easy for it to spiral out of hand, thus there are a
few guidelines that have been developed to ensure that the committee remains focused, organized,
and on-task. Position papers will be required for both Joint Crisis committees.

39
Unknown. (1830). Map of the battle at Vienna on 12 September 1683. map, Paris, France.
https://digitalcollections.sjsu.edu/islandora/object/islandora%3A27_84.
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Joint Crisis Committee: The 1683 Battle of Vienna

Committee Format:
Crisis committees for SOMA L will be held entirely in person.

Committee Sessions:
There will be two co-Chairs in the committee that retains absolute control over who
is allowed to speak, and for how long. The Chairs have been trained, and understand not to
abuse their privilege. They will remain impartial and will exert minimal influence over the
delegates’ decisions and strategies. When required, send a private message through a note to
the Chair for assistance. Chairs will try their best to select the widest variety of speakers
throughout all sessions. Please feel free to send a private message to a Chair if you feel
as though speaker selection has not been made equitable. For questions related to
committee sessions and procedures, please refer to the Delegate Handbook.

Crisis Directives & Notes:

Private Crisis Directives will be sent directly to crisis staff this year, via the yellow
notepads provided for all delegates. Please ensure that your character name is included on
any notepad sent to the crisis backroom. These generic notepads are different from the
branded SOMA ones that will serve as the means of communication between delegates.
Pages will be present in each committee room for the purpose of passing notes between
delegates. Crisis staff will periodically collect completed private directives from committee
rooms. Public Crisis Directives will be written on Google Docs in the respective
committee’s Drive folder to allow committee members to collaborate, as well as allow the
Chairs to access them.
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Works Cited

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